Tube forming machine



. July 12, 1966 F. E. ELGE TUBE FORMINGMACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet l FiledJuly 28, 1964 July 12, 1966 F. E. ELGE 3,260,099

TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO? FRANKg, ELGE Ewa/M July l2, 1966 F. E. ELGE 3,260,099

TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 6

INVENTOR.

FRANK E. ELGE BMQMMK( my July 12, 1966 F. E. ELGE 3,250,099

TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1964 l f 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I NVENTOR.

Ffm/vk E. 1.45 BY July l2, 1966 F E. ELGE 3,260,099

TUBE FORMING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 28, 1964 #als lll-HHUHU FIG. IO

INVENTOR. FRAN K E. ELGE BY i July 12, 1966 F. E. ELGE TUBE FORMINGMACHINE Filed July 28, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 F I G. I3

INVENTOR.

FRANK E. ELGE Fl G. I4

United States Patent O 3,260,099 TUBE FGRMING MACHINE Frank E. Elge,Main St., Ludlow, Pa. Filed `luly 28, 1964, Ser. No. 385,701 3 Claims.(Cl. 72-422) This application is a continuation-impart of applica- -tionSerial No. 57,571, tiled September 2l, 1960, now Patent No. 3,150,437.

This invention relates to tube forming machines, and more particularlyto tube forming machines having an improved pulling device .and animproved device to reduce the size of tubes.

In another embodiment of the invention, rotating rolls are used whichare mounted with their axes at two approaching angles to the centralaxis of the tube. Two to four rolls are separately driven rotatingaround the tube and are mounted in a housing which rotates in the samedirection as the pressure rolls.

Due to the two adjustable angles of the -rolls the motion imparted tothe tubing between the rolls tends to move the tubing forward. Thismethod utilizing rolls having their axis at two angles to the axis ofthe tubing are also contoured so that a hump or projection on the rollsbite into the tube wall thus reducing the wall without the tubing beingrotated.

The two to four rolls having a hump or projection approaching the axesof the tube center line at an angle of not less than 1 and not more than12 of the center line of the tube and a second feed angle of 1 and notmore than 8 in 90 to the -rst angle approach of the rolls.

Arrangement of the reducing rolls under constant high pressure thusreduces the wall of the tube against a mandrel having been insertedinside the tube.

Another feature of this invention includes an improved pull unit. Thisunit provides a continuous pull on the tubing as the tubing is pulledthrough the machine. The unit constitutes an improvement over the pullunit disclosed in the prior application. The pull unit has the advantagethat it requires only a single drive unit while that disclosed in theprior application requires a dual drive unit. The present pull unit isdriven directly by speed reducers, thereby eliminating the double driveunit. The present pull unit is made up of a driver and id-ler sprocket,pull chains, cleats, and pressure device. The cleats release and gripthe tubing alternately. The pressure device provided closes and appliespressure to these cleats and the unit is therefore more eflicient andcan exert a greater pull on the tubing than that shown in the priorapplication.

Another advantage of the present pull unit is that the pressure is notapplied to the chain as previously done, thereby substantiallyelongating the life of the chain. The 'blocks or cleats in t-he pullunit are held by keepers which can be turned horizontally with thecleats as the cleats are driven along the bottom of the cycle of theirrevolution, thus allowing .the cleats to drop out automatically. Thischanging of the cleats in the pull unit requires twenty minutes in oneexample as compared to four hours for changing the cleats in the priordesigns.

A polyurethane or similar material can also be bonded or attached to thecleats. A pressure device can be placed against the cleat holders by:screw action or by hydraulic action or other suitable means. A motorreduction drive can be attached to the pressure screws and thus with.the use of a pressure measuring device, the screw pressure or thehydraulic pressure can be automatically kept constant by the pressuremeasuring device.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved.tube pull unit in combination with a continuous tube forming machine.

Another object is to provide an improved pul-l unit in combinat-ion witha tube forming machine.

A further object is to provide an improved pull unit.

Another object is to provide an improved reduction unit.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsof the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes.may be made in the form, size, proportions, and

. minor details of construction without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a part of a top to the invention; p

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the machine according t-o theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side View of the machine constituting the other partattached to that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the single chain pull unit;

FIG. 5 is a side View of the device shown in FIG. 4;

lFIG. 6 is a side view of one of the links taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side cross sectional view of the embodiment shownin FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partial side view in a cross -section of the machine.

FIG. l0 is a partial view of the device shown on line 10-10 of FIG. 9showing the rolls in the position for reducing the tubing with themandrel supported therein;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of one of the movable cleats on the chainhub;

FIG. 12 is a side view of another embodiment of a single pull unit;

FIG. 13 is an isometric`view showing the friction material on the insidesurface of the cleats;

FIG. 14 is an isometric view showing the friction material with cleatspacer in offset.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, especially FIGS. 1,2, and 3, the machine disclosed herein has a coiler 1 for supporting acoil of strip material, for example, of stainless steel. The strip isfed through horizontal forming rolls 2 where it is formed in a generallychannel shape and passes around a bar 4 which is attached to a mandrelholder 3 in turn xed to the machine frame. The strip then passes throughvertical forming rolls S where the channel is closed to form a tube. Theforming rolls are made up of rollers freely slidable and rotatable onshafts 2. The shafts 2 are carried on journals 91 which are adjustableinwardly by jack screws 92.

The tube so formed then passes through a welding unit 6, through a watercooling unit 7 which cools it after the weld and, from thence, to a colddrawing unit 8.

view of a machine according The unit 8 includes an arrangement of diesor rolls for reducing the outside diameter of the tubing and the wallcross sectional area of the tube. The tube wall reduction unit 8includes an inside plug 48 at this point, more particularly shown inFIGS. 7 and 8 and hereinafter more fully described.

Drawing compound is poured onto the outside of the tube by a dispensingunit 9 and the formed tube passes through a washing chamber 11 shownpartly in FIG. 3 and partly in FIG. 2. From the washing chamber 11, theformed tube passes through an improved pull unit 13 having a pressureplate 14 and power applying means through screws 15 with a sensingdevice 16 for controlling the gripping pressure. The sensing device 16includes a gauge as shown which may be a screen switch having a contactmember 17 which controls the force on the pressure plate 14 to apredetermined pressure. The contact member 17 may be in the form of anelectrical contact or it could be a hydraulic sensing unit for openingor closing the pressure plate 14 at the desired pressure. After leavingthe pull unit, the tube passes through guide rolls 18, through anannealing furnace 19, through guide rolls 20 and a water cooling unit 21to a liying cut-off saw 22.

FIG. 4 shows top view of single chain pull unit and FIG. is a side view.

The side View of FIG. 5 shows a chain made up of links 114 driven bychain sprocket 115 by motor 116.

FIG. 6 shows an end view of links 114 of the chain having two movableparts 117 fastened thereto. Thus, the parts 117 can slide on link 114 toclose or open around the tube 120.

The pressure is applied by rollers 118 which are part of the pressureclamp 119.

In FIG. 4 the tubing 120 entering the pull unit passes the slidingcleats 117 held open by the spacer until they move toward the convergingangle of pressure clamp 119. They seal at point 121 and move forward bythe driven chain composed of links 114.

As the cleats 117 slide by the pressure 4clamp 119 fricltion between themoving cleats is reduced by the rollers 118 in the side of pressureclamp 119.

The cleats 117 being compressed tightly around the tube during thelength of the pressure clamp 119 are pushed open again by spacer 122which moves the cleat 117 away from the tube.

To obtain gripping pressure of cleats, the pressure clamps 119 are mademovable by action of a screw device 123 being motor driven to open orclose or by hydraulic cylinders 124 performing the same function.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 9 and l0, the support310 is shown having bearings 311 which have their outer races fixed tothe support 310 and their inner races xed to the rotary reducer outsideframe 315. The outside frame is also fixed to the gear 316 that isdriven by the motor 317 by way of pinion 318.

The rotary reducer frame 315 supports the motor driven rolls 312 and 313which are driven by the motors 314. The motors 314 are supported on themovable frames 319 that move radially in and out on guides 320 and areurged inwardly by spring 321. The movable frames 319 are driven towardthe tube 4 by means of the piston 322 which is slidable in cylinder 323suitably connected to a source of hydraulic pressure. The piston 322 hasa piston rod 324 secured thereto which engages the cam surface 325 withits tapered point and when a pressure is exerted inside the cylinder 323behind the piston 322, the piston will urge the cam block 327 inward andsince the cam blo-ck has the motor 314 and rolls 313 attached to it,they will all move inwardly guided by the guide 320. The mandrel 330 isconnected to a support rod 331 and it sizes the inside of the tube. Therollers 313 stretch reduce the tube thereby reducing the wall thicknessof the tube. In this operation, the mandrel 330 4 may be slightlysmaller than the inside of the tube so that it can be inserted.

FIG. l0 is a partial View of the rolls shown on line 10-10 of FIG. 9.The shafts 312 are at a l to 12 angle as well as the second angle of lto 8.

FIG. l1 shows a view of the movable cleats 417 sliding on the one piecegrooved chain hub 414 which has a polyurethane lining 432 to hold thetube.

FIG. l2 shows another embodiment of the single chain pull unit, in whicheach link has gear teeth 525 being driven by gears 526.

The chain link 53) with gear teeth 525 are made in one piece and linkedto move over non-driven pulleys 528.

The cleat 529 again is made to slide side Ways by sliding in groove cutin chain link 530.

FIG. 13 shows the insertion of polyurethane friction material on theinside surface of the cleats 633. The moulded polyurethane 632 isattached to the grooved cleat 633.

FIG. 14 shows the polyurethane 634 cut from sheet, and placed intooffset space 63S in the cleat.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferredpractical forms but the structure shown is capable of modiication withina range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is tobe understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appendedclaims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are dehned as follows:

1. A pull unit for a tube comprising spaced sprockets,

Adrive means for said sprockets,

a chain on said sprockets,

spaced cleat means on the ou-ter periphery of said chain link,

sa-id cleat means having a first and a second member movable relative toeach other,

a normally fixed cam member attached to said pull unit,

a movable member spaced from said normally lixed cam member, said cleatmeans bein-g movable between said normally 'iixed cam member and saidmovable merriber,

said normally fixed cam mem-ber and said movable member having rollersmounted in races thereon engaging said cleat means as they movetherealong,

and means to force said movable member toward said normally fixed cammember whereby said cleat means )are forced in a line parallel to adiameter of said tube into engagement by said force me-ans whereby saidchain pulls said tube in the direction of travel of a part of saidchain.

2. The unit recited in claim 1 wherein said cleats have an intermediatepart attached to one link of said chain and two of said cleats slidablysup- -ported thereon. 3. A pull unit for a tubing mil-l for pullingtubing through said mill comprising spaced rotating members, a chainhaving links around said rotating members, said chain/having cleatssupported thereon, said cleats Ihaving an intermediate part attached toa link of said chain and two of said cleats being slidably supportedthereon being movable laterally of said chain in translation in a lineparallel to a diameter of said tube,

means moving said cleats toward each other and forcing them intoengagement with said tubing whereby -said tube is clamped between saidcleats,

reduction means on said machine to reduce the size of said tube,

said reduction means comprising a mandrel supported on said machine andadapted to engage the inside of said tube,

and rollers supported on said machine with their axes extendinggenerally in the direction of said tube and inclined slightly theretowhereby the periphery of said rollers makes forcible engagement Withsaid tube.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,321,729r11/1919 iFriel 205-22 1,499,533 7/11924 Katzenrneyer 80-13 2,060,76711/ 11936 Assel 80 2,060,768 11/1936 Inscho 205-7 Assel 80-5'8 McCray80-13 Hendrickson 80-11.1 Arata 80-13 Powell 29-544 Ca-pgfras 205-22CHARLES W. LAN-HAM, Primary Examiner.

Assel 80:13 1o H. D. HoINK-Es, Assistant Examiner.

3. A PULL UNIT FOR A TUBING MILL FOR PULLING TUBING THROUGH SAID MILLCOMPRISING SPACED ROTATING MEMBERS, A CHAIN HAVING LINKS AROUND SAIDROTATING MEMBERS, SAID CHAIN HAVING CLEATS SUPPORTED THEREON, SAIDCLEATS HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE PART ATTACHED TO A LINK OF SAID CHAIN ANDTWO OF SAID CLEATS BEING SLIDABLY SUPPORTED THEREON BEING MOVABLELATERALLY OF SAID CHAIN IN TRANSLATION IN A LINE PARALLEL TO A DIAMETEROF SAID TUBE, MEANS MOVING SAID CLEATS TOWARD EACH OTHER AND FORCINTTHEM INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TUBING WHEREBY SAID TUBE IS CLAMPEDBETWEEN SAID CLEATS, REDUCTION MEANS ON SAID MACHINE TO REDUCE THE SIZEOF SAID TUBE, SAID REDUCTION MEANS COMPRISING A MANDREL SUPPORTED ONSAID MACHINE AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE INSIDE OF SAID TUBE, AND ROLLERSSUPPORTED ON SAID MACHINE WITH THEIR AXES EXTENDING GENERALLY IN THEDIRECTION OF SAID TUBE AND INCLINED SLIGHTLY THERETO WHEREBY THEPERIPHERY OF SAID ROLLERS MAKES FORCIBLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TUBE.